LHC unimpressed by anti-smog steps

Judge says officials should monitor situation on roads

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Shahid Karim has expressed dissatisfaction with the government's measures to curb the worst smog condition across Punjab.

Justice Karim was hearing a years-old set of petitions about how smog could be controlled, society protected from pollution and groundwater saved from wastage.

As the proceedings commenced, Justice Karim observed that he had been optimistic that the government would take concrete initiatives but it appeared that the measures had not been sufficient for solving the smog problem.

The judge observed that he did not want to pass any order but to see what more steps the government would take.

Justice Karim observed that each commissioner and deputy commissioner should ensure their presence on roads to monitor the situation.

The judge said he had not seen anyone checking vehicles on the roads.

He asked if the government had issued any notification about imposing a fine worth Rs100,000 upon vehicles found unfit.

He observed that meagre amount of fines would not bring change and the government should do what was the requirement of the time.

Justice Karim adjourned the proceedings till Tuesday and sought reports about the matter from various departments.

Meanwhile, the Lahore traffic police have has formed 41 anti-smog squads to act against smoke-emitting vehicles.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Ammara Athar announced that following a directive from the LHC, the department was gearing up to strictly enforce regulations on heavy traffic and motorcycles that emit excessive smoke.

Each anti-smog squad is accompanied by a truck to tow vehicles violating the standards.

Motorcycles causing pollution will be loaded onto the trucks and taken to nearby police stations.

The owners will be required to submit affidavits and the vehicle documents for ensuring that they would remain impounded until their repair. The action will continue in three daily shifts.

The traffic police have also set up 12 checkpoints across the city. Reports indicate that the department has been imposing fines of millions of rupees daily on violators and impounding hundreds of heavy vehicles and tractor-trolleys contributing to pollution.

During the past 24 hours, the authorities took action against 1,215 smoke-emitting vehicles and impounded 210 of them.

Entry into the city of more than 6,000 heavy vehicles was restricted to reduce congestion and pollution levels.

Joint teams of the traffic police, environment and mines departments are also conducting operations across the city.

An artificial intelligence system is issuing e-challans to vehicles found emitting smoke. Officials said government vehicles were also being checked.

Lahore and its surroundings experienced thick smog, decreasing visibility on the roads.

As a result, the Lahore-Islamabad and Sialkot motorways were closed.

The measure led to a spike in traffic flow within the city as commuters sought alternate routes, prompting the deployment of additional traffic personnel at the entry and exit points.

The traffic personnel were advised to use reflectors and flasher lights to improve road safety during low-visibility. SP City Muneer Hashmi inspected the checkpoints around the city late night.

He said transporters and the citizens must adhere to the regulations to help mitigate the smog and promote a healthy environment.